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making a settlement in America. Being a favourite in the court of Queen Elizabeth, he obtained a patent, bearing date the 25th of March, 1584, for the discovering and planting of any lands and countries which were not possessed by any Christian prince or nation.*

About the same time the queen granted him another patent, to license the vending of wine throughout the kingdom, that by the profits thence arising he might be able to bear the expense of his intended plan of colonization. Farther to strengthen his interest, he engaged the assistance of two wealthy kinsmen, Sir Richard Grenville and William Sanderson.†† They provided two barks, and, having well furnished them with men and provisions, put them under the command of Philip Amadas

* [This patent was but a renewal of the one granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, there being no material variation in the provisions.-Hazard, i., 33. Hakluyt, 135 and 243.-H.]

[Sir William Sanderson was an eminent merchant of London, and had married a niece of Sir Walter. He was a principal member of the company which in 1585, 6, 7 sent Captain John Davis to discover a northwest passage to China. In that enterprise he took a deep interest, and adventured largely with his purse, and the chief direction and management of it was committed to him. Smith (Gen. Hist., p. 2) calls him "a great friend to all such noble and worthy actions."—H.]

Stith's History of Virginia, p. 7, 8.

and Arthur Barlow,* who sailed from the west of England April 27, 1584.

They took the usual route by the way of the Canaries and the West Indies, the reason of which is thus expressed in the account of this voyage written by Barlow,† "because we doubted that the current of the Bay of Mexico between the Cape of Florida and Havanna had been of greater force than we afterward found it to be."

Taking advantage of the Gulf Stream, they approached the coast of Florida, and on the second of July came into shoal water, where the odoriferous smell of flowers indicated the land to be near, though not within sight. On the fourth they saw land, along which they sailed forty leagues before they found an entrance. At the first opening they cast anchor (July 13), and, having devoutly given thanks to GOD for their safe arrival on the coast, they went ashore in their boats, and took possession in the name of Queen Elizabeth.

The place where they landed was a sandy island, called Wococon,‡ about sixteen miles

* [Barlow had served under Raleigh in Ireland.-Cayley, i., 24.-H.]

Hakluyt, iii., 246.

This island is generally supposed to be one of those which

in length and six in breadth, full of cedars, pines, cypress, sassafras, and other trees, among which were many vines loaded with grapes. In the woods they found deer and hares, and in the waters and marshes various kinds of fowl; but no human creature was seen till the third day, when a canoe, with three men, came along by the shore. One of them landed, and, without any fear or precaution, met the Europeans, and addressed them in a friendly manner in his own language. They carried him on board one of their vessels, gave him a shirt and some other trifles, and regaled him with meat and wine.

lie at the mouth of Albemarle Sound, on the coast of North Carolina. Barlow, in his letter to Sir W. Raleigh, preserved by Hakluyt, says that he, with seven others, went in a boat “twenty miles into the River Occam, and the evening following came to an island called Roanoke, distant from the harbour by which we entered seven leagues; at the north end thereof was a village." Mr. Stith, who wrote the History of Virginia, and who acknowledges that he had, not seen this letter in English, but in a Latin translation, supposes that the Island Wococon must lie between Cape Hatteras and Cape Fear, and that the distance might be 30 leagues. But it appears from Barlow's letter that the boat went in one day, and came in the evening to the north end of Roanoke: the distance is twice mentioned, once in miles and once in leagues. I see no reason, therefore, to admit Stith's conjecture in opposition to Barlow. Stith, however, appears to have been a very close and accurate inquirer, as far as his materials and opportunity permitted.

VOL. I.-C c

He then returned to his canoe, and, with his companions, went a fishing. When the canoe was filled, they brought the fish on shore and divided them into two heaps, making signs that each of the vessels should take one.

The next day several canoes came, in which were forty or fifty people, and among them was Granganimeo, brother of Wingina, king of the country, who was confined at home by the wounds which he had received in battle with a neighbouring prince. The manner of his approach was fearless and respectful. He left his boats at a distance, and came along the shore, accompanied by all his people, till he was abreast of the ship. Then advancing with four men only, who spread a mat on the ground, he sat down on one end, and the four men on the other. When the English went on shore armed, he beckoned to them to come and sit by him, which they did; and he made signs of joy and friendship, striking with his hand on his head and breast, and then on theirs, to show that they were all None of his people spoke a word; and when the English offered them presents, he took them all into his own possession, making signs that they were his servants, and that all which they had belonged to him.

one.

After this interview the natives came in

great numbers, and brought skins, coral, and materials for dyes; but when Granganimeo was present, none were permitted to trade but himself and those who had a piece of copper on their heads. Nothing pleased him so much as a tin plate, in which he made a hole and hung it over his breast, as a piece of defensive armour. He supplied them every day with venison, fish, and fruits, and invited them to visit him at his village, on the north end of an island called Roanoke.

This village consisted of nine houses, built of cedar, and fortified with sharp palisades. When the English arrived there in their boat, Granganimeo was absent; but his wife entertained them with the kindest hospitality, washed their feet and their clothes, ordered their boat to be drawn ashore and their oars to be secured, and then feasted them with venison, fish, fruits, and hommony.* While they were at supper, some of her men came in from hunting, with their bows and arrows in their hands, on which her guests began to mistrust danger; but she ordered their bows. to be taken from them, and their arrows to be

* Hommony is made of Indian corn beaten in a mortar and separated from the bran; then boiled either by itself or in the broth of meat.

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